RPF New Look Feedback Thread

[Qui-Gonzalez]

JD, while you DO raise some good points, what do you want the man to say? What are you wanting to hear? What OTHER point are you fishing for? Your good points are buried under the weight of your attitude in getting them out there. I have never seen a positive comment about the way the board is run from you. Granted, I have not read every comment you have made about the RPF, but in my experience, you are not ever happy with it.

There is one real issue that people are consistently bringing up and that is the width. The rest is all nit-pickery. First, it is the logo, then it is the layout. Hell, the loud voices have NEVER stepped up to take control of the place. It's easy to ***** about things you do not like, but how about what you DO like?

 

[steveo]

It's interesting, but I'm pretty much a SW guy, so I want my SW theme back.

 

[JD]

Sorry, just don't have time to play "appease those who have no desire to be appeased."

And no one is asking you - I think I made some strong, valid points. I'm said to see whatever may've happened in the past come back to like this - I thought those issues were gone.

 

[Quick2]

This looks great. Super job on the New Look.

 

[The Next Doctor]

There is one real issue that people are consistently bringing up and that is the width. The rest is all nit-pickery. First, it is the logo, then it is the layout.

I think the nit-pickery (I so have to use this word later) is the point. This is a Feedback thread and yes there is going to be nitpicking. I think this thread would have been better served with some "ground rules"

Like:
The following are set in stone so please do not comment on these:
We are not going to add the legacy themes back
We are not going to be called The Replica Prop Forum anymore. We are now the RPF.
We will not be changing the logo to anything other than what it is now.

Please feel free to comment on any other technical issues you may have.

Granted the change isn't going to stop me from coming here.

 

[Pete SSS]

The amount of effort you guys are putting in is amazing. The site looks sleek and stylish, but is is far from corporate or cold. If anything, it feels a little more cozy and comfortable than the "old standard" . The icons look great across the top and I really like the hatching texture on the background.

My one tiny nitpick, the first time I glanced at the new marketplace icon, I though it was a baby's bottle !

Like I say, job well done, and well worth the effort, she looks great!

 

[Michael Bergeron]

In regard to porting it to vB 4... I can't see a legit justification for doing so.

Because members want it isn't justification? Would you accept member submited skins and make them available to users? If so I'm sure it could be arranged that a free legacy skin option could be provided to the Mods to make available.

Sorry, just don't have time to play "appease those who have no desire to be appeased."

I'm easily appeased... I'd even arrange for it myself whether by finding someone with the web skills or raising the funds.

 

[Art Andrews]

We didn't set ground rules because we do want to hear what people think, even about the nitpick stuff. It never hurts to hear it and it gives us the opportunity to explain ourselves further or to give our thoughts on particular subjects. We have found that making ourselves available to explain our actions and to give detailed reasons why we did this or that goes a long ways to easing member's concerns, even when they don't agree with the decision. While it is always nice to have agreement, the real test is when you can disagree amicably or can agree to disagree.

It only gets tedious when the same old voices come out with the same old tired subjects that have essentially been beat to death.

I think the nit-pickery (I so have to use this word later) is the point. This is a Feedback thread and yes there is going to be nitpicking. I think this thread would have been better served with some "ground rules"

Like:
The following are set in stone so please do not comment on these:
We are not going to add the legacy themes back
We are not going to be called The Replica Prop Forum anymore. We are now the RPF.
We will not be changing the logo to anything other than what it is now.

Please feel free to comment on any other technical issues you may have.

Granted the change isn't going to stop me from coming here.

 

[SiR-ROUND]

Always hated the vintage Star Wars look.

This awesome! THX!

 

[Art Andrews]

My one tiny nitpick, the first time I glanced at the new marketplace icon, I though it was a baby's bottle !

lol:lol

 

[JD]

It only gets tedious when the same old voices come out with the same old tired subjects that have essentially been beat to death.

I wonder if it's as tedious as the same old mod's not listening to the membership and making wholesale changes with little regard to members feedback?

This is really looking like ask for your feedback only to disagree and ignore it.

(Art, just for clarity's sake my posts weren't meant to be pointed, vindictive nor harsh. I voiced my own thoughts and repeated some thoughts other members had. You, well basically threw the first stone - instead of being open and taking these suggestions you chose to turn this thread into something... different. I really thought things were different and a little more open and tolerant after some previous discussions).

 

[Invicta]

Really like the new look. It's fresh and appealing. My only gripe is you could have warned me I logged on today and almost spit my coffee over the screen I thought my home from home had been hacked. Really love the icons at the top of the page, the new logo is so cool. Thanks everyone :thumbsup

**Edit**
RPF themed goodies coming soon :love Pencil me in for one of everything.

 

[Michael Bergeron]

I wonder if it's as tedious as the same old mod's not listening to the membership and making wholesale changes with little regard to members feedback?

This is really looking like ask for your feedback only to disagree and ignore it.

(Art, just for clarity's sake my posts weren't meant to be pointed, vindictive nor harsh. I voiced my own thoughts and repeated some thoughts other members had. You, well basically threw the first stone - instead of being open and taking these suggestions you chose to turn this thread into something... different. I really thought things were different and a little more open and tolerant after some previous discussions).

I think the issue here is that most of the critizisms are coming without solutions. For instance, a few people here have stated they'd like a legacy skin when the next upgrade comes. No one but me is trying to provide solutions to that problem, just "we want it".

The way to win people over in this type of thing is to provide them options, not just attack.

Anyhow, I think overall this thread has been pretty civil in comparisson to others I've seen!

 

[Art Andrews]

JD, if you want to take it to PM, you know I am always willing to talk.

 

[Art Andrews]

Because members want it isn't justification? Would you accept member submited skins and make them available to users? If so I'm sure it could be arranged that a free legacy skin option could be provided to the Mods to make available.

I'm easily appeased... I'd even arrange for it myself whether by finding someone with the web skills or raising the funds.

We have a few other things on the plate before moving to vb 4, but as we get closer, if you are still interested, we can talk about it more, but I don't want to make any commitments at this point.

If you want to get an idea of what is involved, these links would be a good primer.

vBulletin Manual - StyleVars

StyleVar Visual Dictionary for Forum, Blog, and CMS (PDF Documents) - Blogs - vBulletin Community Forum

vB4: Skinning Your Forum in 10 Easy Steps - Blogs - vBulletin Community Forum

vBulletin 4.0.4 Style Generator - Blogs - vBulletin Community Forum

 

[Son of Skywalker]

The Marketplace = gag reflex :sick


I understand the need for a logo update; however, it looks like clip art...
For all the creativity of this board I'm disappointed.



+1 for a Star Wars banner (yes I know it won't happen but still...)

 

[Angelus Lupus]

First off: I'm not trolling here. Honestly.
But...
The attitude seems to be "We're changing the look because we want to. It's fixed width - because. We're not giving you the theme you're all asking for. Now tell us what you think, but if you don't like it we'll ignore things until you stop complaining."

I don't get why a variable-width style is such a hassle.

 

[Goodwolf]

My one, and only niggle with the new design is that I can't see what threads I've visited. Sometimes I just want to jump in and scan a few threads and looking for the lighter coloured ones helped.

Other than that minor quibble I have to say I like the look and layout.

 

[EvilRocketeer]

My one, and only niggle with the new design is that I can't see what threads I've visited. Sometimes I just want to jump in and scan a few threads and looking for the lighter coloured ones helped.

Other than that minor quibble I have to say I like the look and layout.

Reading through the comments, we did take out most of the "visited link" colors along with underlines. Since the visited link color is a concern for many of you, we will look at putting that back in place. Just give us a little time to get the colors worked out.

Art answered that concern a few pages back

 

[Art Andrews]

First off: I'm not trolling here. Honestly.
But...
The attitude seems to be "We're changing the look because we want to. It's fixed width - because. We're not giving you the theme you're all asking for. Now tell us what you think, but if you don't like it we'll ignore things until you stop complaining."

I don't get why a variable-width style is such a hassle.

A-L,

Perhaps I am not coming across as intended. Based on your statement above, this is what we mean:

"We are changing the look because 1) we want something that is more professional, cohesive, modern and flexible 2) that is less focused on a specific franchise and 3) that we can begin to build a brand around.

It is fixed width because fixed width is easier to design around and is what many sites have gone to (primarily because of the ease of design) and because fixed width is more in line with the cohesive and consistent look we mentioned above.

When we eventually go to a new platform that will require new themes to be built from the ground up, we are not going to spend the time or money to rebuild an outdated theme that no longer represents what the site has become and only appeals to a shrinking segment of the membership.

Now tell us what you think, and we will try to give you more explanation when possible, but if you just want to complain, well, there isn't much we can do for you and are not going to waste our time trying. One we have explained our reasons, if you continue to simply complain, we will ignore you until you change your approach to something that is constructive."